Explore India's political responses to World War II, including the Congress stance, the Cripps Mission, and key political events leading to independence.
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Congress Stand on World War II
Initial Stance
Congress Stand on World War II:
Congress would cooperate in the war effort if:
Freedom was given after the war.
A genuinely responsible government was immediately set up.
Key Events
September 1, 1939: World War II broke out; Britain declared India’s support for the war.
September 10-14, 1939: CWC meeting at Wardha:
Gandhi was for unconditional support to Britain’s war efforts.
Subhash Bose and Leftists favored leveraging Britain’s difficulties to start a mass movement against colonialism.
Nehru recognized the imperialist nature of the war but was against exploiting Britain’s difficulties and opposed Indian participation in the war.
The CWC resolved: No Indian participation unless freedom is granted; Government should declare its war aims soon.
October 17, 1939: Linlithgow’s Statement:
Britain’s war aim was to resist aggression.
All interest groups would be consulted to modify the 1935 Act for the future.
A “consultative committee” was to be formed for advising functions.
Congress Response and Actions
Congress Response:
No Indian support to the war.
Congress ministries in provinces to resign.
No immediate mass struggle to be launched.
March 1940: ‘Pakistan Resolution’ passed at Lahore session of Muslim League.
August 1940: August Offer proposed dominion status as a long-term objective and a constituent assembly to be formed after the war. Congress rejected the offer.
October 1940: Congress launched individual satyagraha; 25,000 satyagrahis court-arrested.
March 1942: Japan reached Rangoon after overrunning most of South-East Asia.
Cripps Mission
March 1942: Cripps Mission offered:
An Indian Union with dominion status and the right to withdraw from the Commonwealth.
A constituent assembly elected by provincial assemblies to frame the constitution after the war.
Freedom for any province unwilling to join the Union to have a separate agreement with Britain.
Defence of India to remain in British hands.
Congress Objections:
Dominion status instead of full independence.
Right of provinces to secede.
No immediate transfer of power.
Retention of governor-general’s supremacy.
Muslim League Objections:
Pakistan was not explicitly offered.
The machinery for creating the Constituent Assembly was unsatisfactory.
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